Letran Knights
| Letrán Knights | |
|---|---|
| Colegio de San Juan de Letrán | |
 |
|
| League | NCAA |
| Joined | 1928-32, 1936-present |
| Location | Intramuros, Manila |
| Team colors | Blue and Red |
| Women's team | Lady Knights |
| Juniors' team | Squires |
|
Seniors' general championships
|
|
|
|
|
Juniors' general championships
|
|
|
|
The Letran Knights are the men's varsity teams of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran that participate in the NCAA (Philippines). The women's varsity teams are the Letran Lady Knights, while the High School varsity teams are called the Letran Squires.
When Letran College joined the NCAA (Philippines) league in the 1928–29 season, it took the knight as its mascot. The Knight was chosen as the school mascot since its founder, the Spanish officer Don Juan Geromino Guerrero, was a Knight of Malta.
Letran College was an active participant in inter-collegiate basketball throughout the twentieth century, and continues its activity into the 2000s.
Letran College won the La Liga Catolica (The Catholic League) in the early 1920s. When Letran joined the NCAA (Philippines) in 1928, the Squires promptly won the junior's championship in their first season and went on to establish the then NCAA (Philippines) record of three consecutive junior's championships. Letran College withdrew, however, in 1932, after a dispute over an ineligible player in the track and field athletics league. Letran College later rejoined the league in 1936. Two years later, the Knights won their first senior basketball title under coach Jacinto Ciria Cruz and team captain Felicismo Fajardo. The other members of the victorious 1938 quintet were Angel de Leon, who later coached the 1950 Letran team that won the NCAA title, Guillermo Salvador, Feliciano Manlulu, Carlos Camillas, Jose Pacheco, Honesto Baltazar, Francisco Nepomuceno, Victorio Salazar, German Monzon and Guillermo Mendoza.
The seasons following this were disappointing for the Letran Knights, until the team achieved a breakthrough in 1950.
The Knights emerged as the top team in the 1950 season. Winning the first five games, the Knights were assured of a place in the finals since winners of the first and second rounds were automatically given a spot in the championship. They went on to win the next four second round games as well. It was determined that there was no need to hold a championship round and they won by default. The team was headed by 1948 Olympian Lauro "The Fox" Mumar, nicknamed "Murder Inc."
During this period, the Knights made a habit of winning championships around the turn of every decade. In 1960 led by Clemente Vargas and then rookie Freddie Webb they beat the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers in the championship round. 6 years later in 1966, the Knights beat the Heavybombers again for the championship. In the 1970 season, the Knights, led by Molet and Ricky Pineda, Rudy Hines and Dave Regullano among others, beat De La Salle University, Manila, for the championship.
...
Wikipedia